David Gledhill has resigned from his position as chief executive of Hutchison Ports UK with immediate effect. Based at the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port that handles over 40% of the country’s containers, he was also responsible for Hutchison’s other UK facilities at Thamesport and Harwich.

Gledhill leaves Hutchison Ports UK

No reason was given by the company for his departure, however, it is understood that Gledhill, who is 56, suffered health problems in recent years. In July last year he took a six month sabbatical because of his health, returning to work at the beginning of this year. During that time Clemence Cheng, managing director, central Europe, for Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), took over Gledhill’s role.

In a personal 1-2-1 Interview with CM last year, Gledhill said that he, “sort of fell into the maritime industry”, becoming a dock runner in the Port of Dover during college holidays.

He was approached by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) following its acquisition of Thamesport, to reshape and integrate the business into the group to meet future challenges. Although expecting to remain at the port for some time, he moved to Felixstowe to become commercial director for the HPH UK group, later becoming chief operating officer then CEO.

He told CM, “Luckily I have been in the top job as Felixstowe has grown”. During his time at the port Gledhill has overseen major expansion, including Berths 8 & 9, its deep water shipping terminal and the first stage of a £1bn (US$1.5bn) investment programme.